It needed a massive Irish performance, our best at this World Cup and our most substantial since 2018, to become a reality. As the game went on, it was akin to men against boys with the metaphorical youngsters all clad in green. Irish rugby has been good for him, but he has been great, and I mean truly great, for Irish rugby given what he has achieved and where he has taken us. I must confess to feeling more nervous before Saturday’s kick-off than any Irish game ever. Here is a player who epitomises everything good about the game and the great rugby-playing country he leads.

Source: Irish Independent October 20, 2019 20:03 UTC